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In this study, a platelet-rich plasma poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PRP-PLGA)/calcium phosphate cement (CPC) composite scaffold was prepared by incorporating PRP into PLGA/CPC scaffold with unidirectional pore structure, which was fabricated by the unidirectional freeze casting of CPC slurry and the following infiltration of PLGA. The results from in vitro cell experiments and in vivo implantation in femoral defects manifested that incorporation of PRP into PLGA/CPC scaffold improved in vitro cell response (cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation), and markedly boosted bone formation, angiogenesis and material degradation. The incorporation of PRP into scaffold showed more outstanding improvement in osteogenesis as the scaffolds were used to repair the segmental radial defects, especially at the early stage. The new bone tissues grew along the unidirectional lamellar pores of scaffold. At 12 weeks postimplantation, the segmental radial defects treated with PRP-PLGA/CPC scaffold had almost recuperated, whereas treated with the scaffold without PRP was far from healed. Taken together, the PRP-PLGA/CPC scaffold with unidirectional pore structure is a promising candidate to repair bone defects at various sites.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro degradation, cytocompatibility, and in vivo osteogenesis of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/calcium phosphate cement (CPC) scaffold with unidirectional lamellar pore structure. CPC-based scaffold was fabricated by unidirectional freeze casting, and PLGA was used to improve the mechanical properties of the CPC-based scaffold, which covered the surface of the pore wall as coating. The in vitro degradation results demonstrated that the PLGA/CPC scaffold had good degradability. The degradation of PLGA film on the surface of the scaffold made the CPC matrix exposed, which facilitated cell response and osteogenesis. Rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were seeded on the PLGA/CPC composite scaffold. Cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation on the PLGA/CPC composite scaffold were evaluated. The results showed that viable rMSCs attached on the surface of pore wall gradually penetrated into the internal pores of the scaffold as prolongation of culture time. In addition, the rMSCs seeded on the scaffold exhibited good proliferation and growing alkaline phosphatase activity. The scaffold was implanted in the defects in distal end of femora of New Zealand white rabbits. Histological evaluation indicated that the PLGA/CPC scaffold with unidirectional lamellar pore structure had good biocompatibility and effective osteogenesis. These results suggest PLGA/CPC composite scaffold with unidirectional lamellar pore structure is a promising scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

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Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP) has been proposed as a potential dental implant because of its good biocompatibility, excellent mechanical properties, and distinctive aesthetic effect. However, Y-TZP cannot form chemical bonds with bone tissue because of its biological inertness, which affects the reliability and long-term efficacy of Y-TZP implants. In this study, to improve the bioactivity of Y-TZP ceramics while maintaining their good mechanical performance, Y-TZP was modified by grain-boundary activation via the infiltration of a bioactive glass (BG) sol into the surface layers of Y-TZP ceramics under different negative pressures (atmospheric pressure, -0.05 kPa, and -0.1 kPa), followed by gelling and sintering. The in vitro bioactivity, mechanical properties, and cell behavior of the Y-TZP with improved bioactivity were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and Raman spectroscopy. The results of the bioactivity test conducted by immersing Y-TZP in simulated body fluid (SBF) showed that a bonelike apatite layer was produced on the entire surface. The mechanical properties of the modified Y-TZP decreased as the negative pressure in the BG-infiltration process increased relative to those of the Y-TZP blank group. However, the samples infiltrated with the BG sol under -0.05 kPa and atmospheric pressure still retained good mechanical performance. The cell-culture results revealed that the bioactive surface modification of Y-TZP could promote cell adhesion and differentiation. The present work demonstrates that the bioactivity of Y-TZP can be enhanced by grain-boundary activation, and the bioactive Y-TZP is expected to be a potential candidate for use as a dental implant material.